“That’s the ticket, Tunis,” muttered Cap’n Ira.  “Put her where she belongs.”

“So my own folks turn me out, do they?” cried Ida May, hatefully, staring at the two old people.  “If anybody is crazy it is those two,” and she pointed to the Balls.  “Take in a drab like that girl and throw me out.  Why, I believe I’ve seen her before.  Somehow, she looks familiar,” she added, her sharp gaze fixed on Sheila again.  “Well, wherever it was, she was up to no good, I’ll be bound.”

“Are you coming with me willingly, and now?” put in Tunis more harshly.  “You are taking a chance, young woman, in talking this way.”

“Oh, she’s got you going.  That’s plain to be seen!  I thought you was a nice fellow.  But I guess you’re like other sailors.  I always heard they was a bad lot—­running after women—­”

“Will you come without any more words?” interrupted Tunis grimly.

“I’ll have to go back to the town, I suppose.  But remember!  This ain’t the end of this,” she weakly blustered.

“This your bag?” said Tunis calmly, picking up Ida May’s satchel.  “All right.  We’ll go.”

He did not attempt to look at Sheila again, nor at Cap’n Ira and Prudence.  He walked behind Ida May, but rather hustled her out of the door.  She might have cast back some final defiance, but he gave her no chance.

It was almost twilight when they went out at the kitchen door.  They left the trio in the sitting room speechless for the moment.  But Sheila Macklin’s speechlessness arose through different thoughts from those of the Balls.

The girl left behind realized that this almost unexpected outcome was but the momentary triumph of falsehood.

CHAPTER XXII

A WAY OUT

“Ida May, you’d better sit down.  You look like you’d had a stroke,” declared the captain.

“Why wouldn’t she, the dear child?” cried Prudence.  “What do you suppose is the matter with that girl?  Is she crazy?”

“Crazy ain’t no name for it,” her husband rejoined.  “Her top-hamper is all askew, I cal’late.  I never see the beat.”

But just now Sheila could not endure any discussion of the strange girl.  She rose as quickly as she had seated herself.

“I must fix supper,” she said briskly.  “You sit still, Aunt Prudence.  You’re flustered, I can see.  There is nothing for you to do.”

“That’s right,” put in Cap’n Ira.  “Get a bite ready against Tunis comes back.  He’ll want something fillin’ after handling that crazy gal.”

He winked at Prudence and nudged her.  The outstanding incident for the old man was the unmistakable signs Tunis and Sheila had given that they were in love with each other.

“What did I tell ye when that gal first come here?” whispered Cap’n Ira hoarsely, when the girl had left the room.  “I knowed that the hull generation here on the Cape hadn’t been struck blind, not by a jugful!  And it’s evident to my mind, Prudence, that Tunis Latham has had his eyes pretty wide open from the first.”